10,000 Maniacs w/Jude Johnstone

I remain a fan of R.E.M.’s folk rock on 1982’s Chronic Town and 1983’s Murmur, and folk rockers is what they are. The same goes for 10,000 Maniacs, who also reworked folk rock in the image of the 1980s. Like R.E.M. — whose vocalist, Michael Stipe, appeared on the 1987 10,000 Maniacs album In My Tribe — the Maniacs aspired to pretty conventional rock in their heyday, though both groups occasionally transcended their influences. With Natalie Merchant’s rather nasal vocals leading the way, 10,000 Maniacs cut fine late-’80s tracks like “Hey Jack Kerouac” and “Poison in the Well,” which made their points about youth culture and politics. On the other hand, Merchant & Co. covered Cat Stevens’ soppy tune “Peace Train,” a song that gives folk rock a bad name. After Merchant left the band in 1993, singer Mary Ramsey took over vocal duties. Her work on 2015’s Twice Told Tales, which is a collection of traditional folk tunes that would have been familiar to any guitar slinger in 1963, sounds just fine. Opening for 10,000 Maniacs will be Nashville singer-songwriter Jude Johnstone, whose songs have been covered by Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash. 8 p.m. at City Winery, 609 Lafayette St. EDD HURT